What is a sensory spinning seat?
A sensory spinning seat is a low seat a child sits in and turns themselves round on. It goes by a few names: sit and spin, spinning chair, spinning disc. Unlike a roundabout, the child is in charge. They make it go, and they stop when they've had enough.
Which spin, rock or bounce toy should I choose?
Spinning seats. On the Whizzy Dizzy, the seat swivels as the child pulls on the central wheel, so it only ever goes as fast as they pull. It's 50cm across and takes up to 40kg. The Rock Around is a simpler bowl that rocks side to side or spins, with room for two small children and a rim shaped to keep fingers from getting caught underneath. If you already have a TFH swing frame, the Swurl Spinner fits onto it and turns a swing into a spinner.
Rockers. The Giant Top Motion Cone is a big springy cone, 82cm across, that a child climbs into and gets moving with their own body. Once it's going it keeps going, gently or fast, and it works indoors or outside. The Air Body Rocker is a tough inflatable rocker, 150cm long, with room for two children. Flip it over and it becomes a tunnel to crawl under.
Bouncers. The Bouncy Chair is like a baby bouncer, only bigger: a canvas seat and harness hung from a steel frame that pivots on two springs. There's also the Bouncing Chair Light. The Padded Indoor Trampoline with Handlebar has a steel frame, a soft surround and a padded handle about 80cm off the floor. For soft play bouncing, see the Hipp Hopp Small and Large HippHopp.
Balance boards. The wooden Balancing Board Maze and the Light Up Balance Board are here too. For wobble boards, wobble cushions and stepping stones, see Balance Boards and Wobble Cushions.
Spinning, rocking or bouncing?
Watch what a child reaches for when nobody is directing them, and buy for that. Spinning is the strongest of the three. It's for the child who goes looking for it, who spins themselves or asks to go again, and it's best in short bursts. If spinning overwhelms rather than thrills, start somewhere else. Rocking is the working one: tipping and correcting, over and over, a small constant negotiation with gravity. Bouncing is energy out, and oddly, a few minutes of it often leaves a steadier child afterwards.
What size Bouncy Chair do I need?
The Standard frame of the Bouncy Chair measures 53cm from seat to top and suits children of roughly 15 to 25kg. The Bigger frame measures 63cm and suits roughly 20 to 30kg. Treat these as a rough guide rather than a hard limit: the head is the heaviest part of the body and has the most leverage in the chair, so a taller child may need the bigger frame sooner. Replacement covers are sold separately for the Standard and Bigger frames. If you're unsure which to choose, call us with the child's height and weight.
Toys for two
Some of these are better shared. The Rock Around has room for two small children and the Air Body Rocker fits two. One leans and the other has to lean back, or the whole thing tips. Nobody needs to explain the rules.
Spinning toys for autistic children and children with ADHD
Parents and teachers often look for spinning and bouncing toys for autistic children and children with ADHD, usually because a child is already spinning, rocking or bouncing on whatever is to hand. What matters most is who controls the speed. The Whizzy Dizzy and Giant Top go as fast as the child makes them, while the Bouncy Chair can be bounced by an adult for a child who can't yet do it alone. An occupational therapist can suggest which kind of movement to try first, and our Shop by Disability pages group the whole range by need.
Are spinning seats and indoor trampolines safe?
Check the limit on each product page before you buy: the Whizzy Dizzy takes up to 40kg, the Padded Indoor Trampoline up to 25kg, and the Giant Top is for ages 3 to 10. Give spinning and rocking toys clear floor space, away from furniture and walls, and keep an adult nearby. The Bouncy Chair has a harness, so use it every time. The Air Body Rocker is tested to BS EN 71 parts 1, 2 and 3, and we can tell you the test standard for anything else on this page.
For classrooms and sensory integration rooms
A spinning seat or trampoline in the corner of a classroom gives children somewhere to go for a movement break without leaving the room. Schools can pay by purchase order, and VAT relief is available on several products here, including the Bouncy Chair and Air Body Rocker, for eligible buyers. If you're planning a room built around movement, see our sensory integration rooms page or ask for a free sensory room design.
Written by John Tidmarsh, TFH UK.
